M1 Garand - What should I know?

[CeeJay]

I would love to own an issued Garand, but that alone will spike the cost. The Italian ones seemed to be the best priced as well. Hopefully, if CMP does start producing their own receivers, the cost up here might go down a bit as well.

30-06 is a beefy round, just more expensive, lol.

I'll look into the adjustable gas plugs, thanks.

The CMP route is an option, but I haven't yet researched the process of importing a firearm from the US.

Issued ones can still be found at decent prices, but yeah usually more than everything else

30-06 is beefy lol but thats what makes it awesome and gives it the cool factor and yea 308 has almost caught up with 30-06 price wise

The gas plugs are well worth the money!

If you are going the import route speak to the good folks at Irunguns or Prophet River. All you got to do is pay them, they will take care of the rest.

 

[tiriaq]

$2500... These have really soared in price. When I had my business, the least expensive dogs were $75, and the beautiful Danish refurbed to new, with brand new VAR barrels were $275.
One reason that the bitsers are expensive is because of the price of all the parts. Receivers could be had for $50. Cheap. But there are a LOT of parts in an M1, and some of the parts are pricey. Adds up fast.

 

[Mik123]

I was buying a garand I'd try and find one assembled by Nick from Vulcan Gun Refinishing.

 

[Tyler]

I don't know why anyone would want optics on an M1. Especially when the irons are as good as they are.

I sourced mine from parts, had it head-spaced and re-parkerized by a good gun smith (Nick at Vulcan Gun) with a new .308 barrel. Some of those parts are getting harder to come by, and thus more expensive, but it was a fun project. It always turns heads at a range. The ping is fun, too.

They are notoriously difficult (read: expensive) to accurize but if you're shooting torso shaped steel out to 300m or so, it doesn't really matter. 3-4 MOA is 'good enough'.

 

[L.Parratt]

I was buying a garand I'd try and find one assembled by Nick from Vulcan Gun Refinishing.

Hes just gone sold off his business to my understanding

 

[Mik123]

Hes just gone sold off his business to my understanding

I think he dud, but I saw a couple of his rifles for sale at Epps a few weeks ago ( they sold quick). They do pop up on the used market from time to time.

 

[jody_v]

I gotta guy in Edmonton that will but a new bbl on an m1 if needed …… i just did and currently trying to make 150s work

You talking about Garand Daddy? He rebarreled mine as well. Great job and quite reasonable.

 

[MooseSlayer07]

You talking about Garand Daddy? He rebarreled mine as well. Great job and quite reasonable.

I've talked with him before, and he's nice. Getting one built by him is an option for me. Though, I'd drive to Edmonton from Chilliwack before trusting Canada Post with shipping a firearm.

 

[wolf300H&H]

You talking about Garand Daddy? He rebarreled mine as well. Great job and quite reasonable.

Yes ……. Do you handload yours ?

 

[fingers284]

It has been mentioned that M1s are not optic friendly. This may be one of the more significant shortcomings.

Actually with the new "compact" and dot scopes available, scoping a Garand is quite easy to do and very usable for the visually challenged of us. I built my own mount because I have a few shop machines needed to do the job but after making mine I found out there are readily available commercial mounts. Mounting them at the original back sight location doesnt interfere with ejection at all.
The biggest issue with using optics is they are raised up considerably from original peeps and your cheek weld has to be adjusted appropriately.

 

[jody_v]

Yes ……. Do you handload yours ?

No. For the amount of shoot it, I just buy American Eagle M1 Garand ammo but I don’t think there is that much difference between that and their 150gr ammo.

 

[MooseSlayer07]

Actually with the new "compact" and dot scopes available, scoping a Garand is quite easy to do and very usable for the visually challenged of us. I built my own mount because I have a few shop machines needed to do the job but after making mine I found out there are readily available commercial mounts. Mounting them at the original back sight location doesnt interfere with ejection at all.
The biggest issue with using optics is they are raised up considerably from original peeps and your cheek weld has to be adjusted appropriately.

Optics would be nice, but I love the irons and want to practice with those. I already have a scope for an old Danish .270, which I will be using for deer and moose.

 

[purple]

Knowledge is a great start. I'd suggest "The M1 Garand Owner's Guide" by Scott A. Duff as a useful primer. For those who want to delve further into the technical and functional aspects of the M1 Garand, I'd recommend the shop manual by Kuhnhausen.

 

[MooseSlayer07]

Knowledge is a great start. I'd suggest "The M1 Garand Owner's Guide" by Scott A. Duff as a useful primer. For those who want to delve further into the technical and functional aspects of the M1 Garand, I'd recommend the shop manual by Kuhnhausen.

Thank you for the valuable information!

 

[MooseSlayer07]

I remember being told that there is somebody in the Fraser Valley of BC that builds Garands. Is that true? If so, is this person active on CGN?

 

[purple]

I remember being told that there is somebody in the Fraser Valley of BC that builds Garands. Is that true? If so, is this person active on CGN?

You should attend the 2 day HACS gunshow in Chilliwack 21-22 March 2026. There's normally a selection of Garands available there.

 

[inthehizzy]

I was lucky enough to have Nick @ Vulcan restore my numbers matching Springfield M1 & LE No. 4 Mk. 1

 

[Scotty454]

I don't know why anyone would want optics on an M1. Especially when the irons are as good as they are.

This. There are tons of options in -06 that are more accurate, lighter, semi-auto, or combinations of those things that are much more conducive to optics. The whole appeal of the Garand is that it is what it is. Not like it's a cheap beater options for subsistence hunters like the SKS is (Or at least used to be). I can't really see a reason to put an optic on a Garand.

 

[Joe Amorosi]

I can't really see a reason to put an optic on a Garand.

There are three things that you focus on when sighting a Garand. Rear sight, Front sight and Target.
For guys like myself, with failing eyesight We can only focus on two out of the three. If I focus on the sights, I can't see the target. If I focus on the target, I can't see the front post. The cross-hair makes it a lot easier to find the target.

 

[purple]

The Garand has the best iron sights ever devised. I have M1D and M1C sniper variations which really don't offer much beyond the iron sights - ergonomics fom the offset scope aren't good.